Process of and apparatus for manufacturing gas



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.4 E. C. REW

PROCESS 0F AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING GAS.

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(No'Model;) 3 'Setssheet' 2. H. C. REW. PROCESS 0F AND APPARATUS FOR `MANUFATIYBJNG GAS. No. 339,471. Patented Apr. 6, 1886.

I'I @gli y (No Model.) 3 Sheets--Sheet 3. E. C. REW.

PROCESS 0F AND APPARATUS PoR MANUPAGTURING'GAS. No. 339,471. l Patented Apr. 6 1886.

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UNTTED STATES PATENT OEETcE.

HENRY C. REV, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 339,471, dated April 6, 1886.

Application filed October 6, 1885.

To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY C. REW, of Chi cago, Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Process of and Appa# ratus for Ilianufacturing Gas, of which the following is a specihcation, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming parts thereof.

rlhis invention relates to the manufacture of gas, and is an improvement on certain apparatus and processes now in operation, as hereinafter described.

In the manufacture of gas by the single-cupola process, having a fuel or generating chamber at the bottom and loose brick-work above supported by arches, the following defects were discovered: First, but a small quantity (say not more than two feet deep) of white-hot coal could be obtained for the decomposition of steam by blasting the i'ire with air, for the reason that above that small limit oxygen was lacking, and consequently there was no combustion of coal, second, the ash-pit was thoroughly chilled by the cold air of the blast, consequently when steam was admitted it was rapidly condensed into water, which dampened the floor and sides of the ashpit; third, the operation ofthe wetsteam and damp air tended to rapidly put out and clog the fire with dead coal in the bottom of the generating or fire chamber, and the fuel frequently had to be taken out and a new :dre built, fourth, the steam passed through the fire irregularly and without being thoroughly decomposed, by which means the liquid hydrocarbons used were partially converted into tar, thus reducing the quantity of gas that the material used was capable of producing and increasing the cost of the gas produced, besides making a poor and unsatisfactory quality of gas.

To remedy these defects, the double cupolas, constructed in the same manner, but joined together by a flue connecting them below the grate-bars, was designed and putin operation in order to accomplish the following results: first, to keep the ash-pits free from steam and water and the fires in good order, so that they would not require to be so frequently renewed; second, to provide a double quantity of white` hot coal for decomposing steam, in order to more perfectly accomplish that important re Serial No. 179,134. (No model.)

sult; third, to superheat the steam before bringing it into contact with the coal. y

Although the foregoing results were accomplished by such improved construction, nevertheless the defects of the double-cupola system, after several months of practical use, are now plainly to be seen, as follows:

First. But a limited quantity (say not more than four or ve feet deep) of white-hot coal can be obtained in both of the connected cupolas for decomposing steam for the reason here tofore given, which is shown to be still insuficient to thoroughly accomplish that object.

Second. The arches supporting the loose briclwork are burned out by the operations of the fires, and require from time to time to be removed and rebuilt. This takes time and is expensive, as the loose bricks are found to be more or less fused together by the action of the heat, and require to be broken apart, in order to remove them from the openings in the tops of the cupolas.

Third. No means are provided or can be conveniently obtained from the waste or superfluous heat to provide hot blasts for the fires.

Fourth. No advantage whatever is taken of the strong tendency of heat to rise. On the contrary this tendency destroys in a large and important measure the operation of the blasts when heating the bricl-work, so that a very large and unnecessary amount of heat is blown into the air and wasted at the tops of the cupolas while the operation of heating up is going Fifth. The gas is sent away from the top of the cupola, in which it is enriched and fixed, in a very highly-heated condition, and the heat is absorbed by the water in the waterseal and the coolers, and is wholly lost and wasted. The strong tendency of the heat to rise causes the highly-heated gases to quickly carry off the hottest and most valuable heat of the enriching and fixing cupola, thereby soon reducing its temperature and greatly reducing the quantity of gas that the heat created is capable of manufacturing. Y

Sixth. Grate-bars are used in the generating-chambers. lThese burn out by the action of the hot gases and have to be removed from time to time.

To put in new grate-bars, the cupolas have to be stopped and partially cooled off and the manufacture of gas discontinued, so that time is taken up and loss and waste are caused thereby.

The object of this improvement is therefore as follows: First, to provide a much larger and sufficient quantity of white-hot coal in order to thoroughly decompose steam or other gaseous mediums used in the manufacture of gas; second, to dispense with arches and brickwork above the fires; third, to provide a hot blast for the lires from superfluous heat that can be readily derived from radiation; fourth, to take greater and the greatest possible advantage ofthe tendency of heat to rise, and to apply means for heating to both the bottom and top of the fuel in the generating-chambers, in order'that it may all be brought up to a white-heat pit for the complete and perfect decomposition of steam or other gaseous Inediums used in the manufacture of gas; fifth, to convert the fuel employed completely into gas without waste or loss either at the top of the cupola or elsewhere 5 sixth, to cheapen and simplify the construction and operation of the apparatus, and to make it more compact, so that less heat will be radiated and lost from the outer walls of the structure; seventh, to send away the completed gas with its heat mostly or entirely abstracted by passage down through the fixing-chamber, eighth, to dispense with grate-bars in the generatingchambers, thus cheapening and simplifying the construction and reducing the cost of maintenance and repairs, and. greatly increasing the quantity of gas the apparatus is capable of producing by not having to stop and cool down for repairs.

I will now proceed to describe my improved apparatus and explain the method of its operation.`

Figure l represents avertical section of my apparatus. Fig. 2 represents a vertical section of the fuel-chambers without gratebars. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the apparatus` showing each chamber in a separate shell.

Chambers A A' are fuel or generating chambers, connected below the grate-bars in the ash-pit B, orv on the line of the tuyeres f by the flue C. A flue for the air-blast enters the connected ash-pits `or flue connecting the tuyeres at D. Flues L L' connect the upper part of the chambers A A' with the upper part of chambers E E'. The chambers E E' are filled with loosely piled fire-br ck. The openings above the chambers A A' for the admission of carbonaceous material are preferably tted with any suitable tight feeding apparatus, (not shown,) in order that gas and heat may not escape from the generatingand heating chambers when fuel is charged into them. E is used as a superheatingfchaniber, and E' as an enriching and fixing chamber. Eis provided at the top with an air-pipe, F, and a steam-pipe, G, at the bottom with a steampipe, G', an air-pipe, F', and a gas-pipe, H,

also at the bottom with an outlet for products of combustion K controlled by the valve K'". Chamber E is connected at the top by flue L with the fuel chamber A. The enriching and xing chamber E is provided at the top with an air pipe F', and a steam-pipe, G', and also at the top and other places, if necessary, with an oil-pipe, M. At the bottom itis provided with an outlet forproducts of combustion, K',controlled by valve K", and also with an outlet for gas, O, controlled by valve o. This chamber E' is connected at the top by Vflue L' with the-fuel-chamher A'.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: The fuel-chambers A and A' are charged with coal and ignited. An air-blast is then ad mitted through the flue D, which urges the fires simultaneously. Air is then admitted at the top of the chambers E E' through pipes F F', which burns the products of combustion, and the highly-heated gases are driven downward through the brick-work and out at the outlets provided. The strongtendency of the heat to rise leaves the heat stored up and remain ing in t-he brick-work and the gases pass off with the heat extracted from them, and comparatively cold. The amount of heat stored in the brick-work can be watched through the peep-holes P P', and regulated at will. The enriching and fixing chamber E' should be only moderately heated, and when this is accomplished thev valve K" is closed, which diverts the air-blast and the hot gases created down through the superheating-chamber E. When this is highly heated, the air-blasts are shut off and the valve K" opened. Steam is then admitted at the tops of chambers E E' through pipes G G', which expands and drives out the products of combustion atthe outlets K K'. The steampipes are then closed, the valves K" and K' closed, the valve o to the gas-main O is opened. .After standing a short time the strong tendency of the heat to rise IOO IIO

and to become equalized in the various chambers causes the coal in the upper part of the fuel-chambers A and A' to become highly and uniformly heated throughout, and to reach the same temperature as the incandescent coal and brick-work in A A' E E'. The apparatus is then ready to thoroughly and completely decompose steam or other gaseous mediums used, and to make, enrich, and x gas. Steam, air, or gas, or any mixture of the same,is then admitted at the bottom of E through pipes G', F,and H,and is driven up through the highlyheated brick-work, raising the mixed gases to the temperature (say 2,0000) necessary for their thorough decomposition when brought into contact with carbon. From the top of chamber E the mixed gases are driven through the iiue L into and down through the incandescent fuel in A,then through the ilue C, up and through the incandescent fuel in A'. By their passage through the chamber E, where they are first highly superheated, then through and into contact with the largely-increased amount of incandescent fuel in A A',the gases are completely decomposed, and pure carbonio oxide and hydrogen gases (provided that gas and steam only are admitted to the superheating-chamber) enriched by the hydrocarbons derived from the coal are` the result. From the top of fuel-chamber A the hot gases are driven through flue'L into the top of the enriching and lining chamber E', then down through the heated brick-work, where they are combined and iixed into a homogeneous gas, and out at the outlet to the gas-main O. A test-burner is attached to the main. and in case the gas needs still further enriching liquid hydrocarbons or their vapors may be introduced into chamber E through the pipe M and other controlling-pipes, and-in their passage down through the heated brick -work they will be combined and fixed with the other gases into a homogeneous gas of any desired candle-power.

Steam, air, or a non-illuminating gas may be used separately and driven into chamber E at the bottom through pipes G', F or H, to manufacture gases in the same manner and for the various purposes for which heating or illuminating gases are required, according to the quality of gases required.

The apparatus may be constructed all in one structure, as shown in Fig. l of the drawings; but in this case it is necessaryr that the brick walls of the chambers E E A A should be gas-tight, in order that the heated and highlyexpanded gases should pass through the apparatus, as indicated. To provide for this, the walls may be washed both inside and outside, and in openings left in the middle of the walls (as at S) with glazing, enameling, or vitrifying solutions, and the intense heat will cause the walls to become glazed and perfectly gas-tight.

The chambers A A E E may be constructed in separate gas-tight metallic shells, as in Fig. 3, or in other ways, provided that the dues and connections between the chambers be provided for, as shown. If constructed as shown in Figs. l and 2, the air-blast entering at D will be highly heated by contact with the heated walls before being driven into the fuel, the walls being highly heated by the heat radiating through the surrounding walls of the superheating and fixing chambers E E and the generating-chambers A A.

By combining and building two complete and separate sets of chambers in one apparatus, or otherwise, with their walls properly glazed, enameled or vitried, and thus rendered gas-tight, the production of gas can be made practically continuous, one set of chambers being used to make and deliver gas while the other is being heated.

The apparatus can be constructed of any desired size, and thus be capable of supplying any required demand; but preferably the furnaces should not exceed more than six feet across on the plane of the tuyeres.

The arrangement of chambers AA', as shown in Fig. 1, involves the use of grate-bars. This, as already stated, is objectionable, for the reaand have to son that the grate-bars burn out partial coolbe removed, which requires the ing down, as already described.

To dispense with the grate bars is the object ofthe construction shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, in which the construction of the parts, except the chambers, is the same as in Fig. l. ln the drawings, however, the chambers A A are constructed in the manner usual in blast-furnaces well known in the art, and need no detaiied description here, it being simply necessary to set forth the fact that they have no grate-bars to burn out. f

The advantages gained by this apparatus over the double and connected cupolas now well known and in use, having generatingchambers at the bottom and arches and loose brick-work above the fires, are as follows:

First. The arches and brick-work above the fires (as used in the double cupolas) are dispensed with; consequently there are no arches to burn out, and the loose brick-work can be removed and replaced if necessary at much less expense. a

Second. Grate-bars are also dispensed with, and the expense of taking them out and replacing them with new bars is saved.

Third. The heat is stored in the superheating and-dxing chambers by driving the blast and hot gases through the loose refractory material in a downward direction; consequently no heat is wasted, and theA brickwork can be brought to a proper condition for superheating steam and fixing gases by blasting the fires less than halfl the time, and using less than half the coal required by the double cupolas previously mentioned. By this means the material used will produce more than double the quantity of gas and greatly economize in the cost of the manufacture.

Fourth. The completed gas is sent away from the apparatus from the bottom and coolest part of the fixing-chamber, instead of the top and hottest part, as is done in the double cupola previously mentioned; consequently verv little heat is carried away. rIhe heat is retained in the brick-work, and the gas passes off comparatively cool.

Fifth. The tendency of the heat to rise and to become equalized in the four chambers causes the entire amount of fuel used in the generating-chambers to become as highly heated after blasting as the coal in the bottom of A A and the brick-work in the top of E E; consequently a much larger amount of highlyheated fuel-say ten to twelve feet deep-in condition to decomposesteam or other gaseous mediums used can be obtained, if necessary, by myimproved method andapparatus, which will prove entirely adequate to thoroughly decompose the gaseous mediums that may be used in the manufacture of gas.

Having described the construction and operation of my improved apparatus, what I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination, substantially as de- IIS scribed, of the fuel-chambers A A', located at the top of the superheating and fixing chambers E E', and connected at the base by the iiue C, the chambers E E', having outlets for products of combustion at the bottom, steam and gas inlet pipes G and H, connecting with the base ot' chamberE, and the dues L L', connecting the tops of the generating-chambers wit-h the tops of the superheating and xing chambers.

2. Thesuperheating-chamber E,connected by tine L at the top'with the generatingchamber A, and having the steam-.inlet G and airinlet F at the top, and the steam-inlet G', the airinlet F', and the gasinlet H at the bottom,and the outlet K,for products of combustion at the bottom, as shown, the parts being combined as set forth.

3. The enriching and fixing chamber E',con nected by flue L'at the top with thegeneratingchamber A', and having the steam-inlet G and the oil-inlet M, and the air-inlet F at the top and the outlet K' at the bottom, for products of combustion, and the outlet O, controlled by valve o, for carrying off the gas to the main, all in combination, as shown.

4. The combination of chambers A A', having a gas-tight wall or walls between them and the chambers E E', with the connecting-fines C L L', as shown, the generating-chambers being located at the top of the superheating of combustion, and carrying the resulting hot gases downward through a superheating and a fixing chamber loosely filled with refractory material,thereby heating the brick-work; then forcing air, gas. or steam, or any mixture of the same, upward through the superheatingchamber and through the two connecting-furnaces, thereby decomposing the air, gas, or steam and carbureting the resulting gases with the volatile hydrocarbons contained in the solid carbonaceous material, and with `other liquid hydrocarbons, if desired; then forcing the resulting gases downward through the heated brick-work in the xingchamber, thereby fixing and combining the gases into a homogeneous gas.

HENRY' C. REW. Witnesses:

J. B. HALPENNY, M. BYRNE RICH. 

